Greetings All. As a result of my previous request that all seeking access to Post 1901 Census records submit Access To Iinformation requests for the 1906 Census of the Western Provinces to Statistics Canada and the National Archives, many have now received notice that the National Archives does not hold the 1906 records, and that their $5.00 fee will be returned. This was the first phase of this tactic. The second phase is to submit a complaint to the Information Commissioner regarding the refusal/inability of the Archives to provide the records requested. I copy below a suggested letter of complaint to the Information Commissioner of Canada. Unlike the ATI Requests, there is no fee required to submit such a complaint. As with the ATI requests, I would ask that copies of your complaint be sent to me by email attachment, fax to 604-942-6843, or snail mail to Gordon A. Watts 1455 Delia Drive Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2V9 In the letter below, those items within the square brackets should be substituted by the information suggested, i.e. the date, whether your notice of refusal was by telephone, or by letter, and your signature and mailing address. A suggested letter of complaint for Statistics Canada will be posted as soon as I see one of their responses. It is felt that the ATI Requests to the National Archives have probably served their purpose and no further requests need be send there. Requests to Statistics Canada, however, are a different story. ATI Requests to Statistics Canada for access to the 1906 Census of the Western Provinces should be continued. Thanks to all for your continued support. Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted. ================================ Mr. John Reid Information Commissioner of Canada Place de Ville, Tower B 112 Kent Street, 22nd Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1H3 Dear Sir; On [date] I forwarded an Access to Information Request to the National Archives of Canada. With this request I sought general access to schedules of the 1906 Census of the Western Provinces of Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta). On [date] I was advised by [letter/telephone] that the National Archives did not have custody of these records and the $5.00 fee that was included with my ATI request would be refunded. Mr. Commissioner, clauses in Instructions to Officers and Enumerators of Census for 1906 (and other years) clearly state that records of Census "have value as a record for historical use" (Clause 20) and that "The census is intended to be a permanent record, and its schedules will be stored in the Archives of the Dominion." (Clause 34). Further, clauses in the Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Regulation 6(d) of the Privacy Act specifically provide for access to personal information from Census, to any person or body, for purposes of research, 92 years following collection. The National Archives of Canada Act provides that the National Archivist of Canada shall determine what records of government have historical and archival value, and that shall be deposited in the National Archives. The National Archivist has determined that Census records do have historical and archival value, and that they are, in fact, a National Treasure. The pertinent legislation and regulations clearly state that I should have unrestricted access, through the National Archives, to nominal schedules of Census 92 years after collection. Records of the 1906 Census should have been available from 1998, now four years past. This letter is to be considered my official complaint regarding the refusal, or inability, of the National Archives of Canada to provide access to schedules of the 1906 Census of the Western Provinces as per the applicable legislation and regulations. Thank you. [Signature and address]